For as long as I can remember, the Christmas fruitcake has been a terrific source of holiday humor. I’ve never actually eaten a fruitcake, but I’ve seen lots of them, including one that I’m pretty sure was made with gummy bears. It’s not just the name that’s hilarious (”Fruit” and “Cake” don’t belong…

health roundup: Organ harvesting, kidney profits and Haitian headhunters (satire)
Further demonstrating that U.S. doctors are, indeed, mad, two doctors are now publicly promoting the idea that it should be legal for people to sell their own kidneys (and other organs) to patients needing transplants. Such a move would, of course, transform the poorest members of society into easily…

The Effect of Steroids on the Clinical Course and Outcome of Neonates with Meconium Aspiration Syndrome
Meconium Aspiration Syndrome (MAS) is an important cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the role of steroids in the management of MAS. This was a double blinded randomized controlled trial and a prospective Interventional Study over one-year period in the neonatal unit of the Lady Hardinge medical College and associated Kalawati Saran Children’s hospital. Fifty-one babies of MAS which were randomly distributed into three groups, Control, systemic and nebulized steroids. Methyl prednisolone was given i.v. in dose of 0.5 mg/kg/day in two divided doses. Budecort was given by nebulization in dose of 50 microgram 12 hourly. Infants were assessed in terms of duration of stay, oxygen dependence, X-ray clearances and also assessed for short term adverse effects. There was a statistically significant difference in the duration of stay, duration of oxygen dependence and radiological clearance. The use of steroids was not associated with an increased incidence of sepsis. The conclusion is that steroids alter the course of Meconium Aspiration Syndrome and favorably affect the outcome.

Santa beats diabetes with nutrition and exercise just in time for Christmas
Following weeks of nutritional therapy and exercise, Santa Claus today declared himself free of type-2 diabetes and produced lab test results showing a fasting glucose level of 96 mg/dL , well below the diabetes definition of 126mg/dL. Through the month of December, Santa Claus has been working with…

This entry was posted on Sunday, March 25th, 2007 at 1:52 am and is filed under Health. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.